Researchers run out of something to do from time to time (I know from experience), and look around for a new topic. Energy is a great area to get funding, and E-cat-type stuff is full of naifs so why not have a go?
I don't believe F&P tried to pull a hoax -- I think they just screwed up -- they were talking about things they know little about.
Yes, research dollars is a good retort.
Is it your thought then, that nothing out of the ordinary happened in Pons and Flieshman’s research, and that all government funded research should be shut down?
Isn’t a lot of this research being funded on university campuses and the like?